Jean Elizabeth Ritenour

Jean Elizabeth (Shipp) Ritenour passed away peacefully on August 13, 2026, at the age of 98, at August Healthcare at Iliff. Jean leaves behind a beautiful legacy of love, strength, family, and everything she so lovingly nurtured and helped grow.

Jean was born on her parents' farm on April 2, 1928, in Woodstock, Virginia, to Lloyd Shipp and Clara (Dysart) Shipp. Raised on the family farm during the Great Depression, she learned the value of hard work, resourcefulness, and caring for the land. Those early years shaped Jean into the strong and determined woman she remained throughout her long and remarkable life.

Jean later married Garland Leo Ritenour, son of Alfred Tobias Ritenour, the local blacksmith in Toms Brook, Virginia, and Agnes (Good) Ritenour. Their marriage marked the beginning of a lifelong adventure that carried them from the familiar countryside of the Shenandoah Valley to Arlington, Virginia, in search of new opportunities. There, they built a loving home and raised their only daughter, Sharon Kay Wright. They later settled in Falls Church, Virginia, where Jean continued to fill her days with family, flowers, laughter, and purpose.

Jean's hands were always busy, most often in the dirt. She was a gifted gardener who seemed able to bring almost anything back to life. There was hardly a plant she could not root, propagate, or coax into bloom. She especially loved sharing cuttings from her plants, allowing a small piece of her garden - and of herself - to grow in the homes of those she loved.

Jean was also a talented seamstress and crocheter who created beautiful clothing and handmade treasures for her family. She loved cooking and passed down cherished family recipes that will continue to bring loved ones together for generations.

Her home was often filled with the sounds of country music, especially songs by George Strait, as well as her favorite soap operas, including Days of Our Lives. She enjoyed long telephone conversations and the simple pleasure of working outside in her garden. Even well into her eighties, Jean could still be found riding her lawn mower and tending to her yard with the same determination she had carried since childhood.

Jean lived nearly a century, but her life cannot be measured simply in years. It can be measured in the family she loved, the lessons she taught, the recipes she shared, the clothing she made, the gardens she nurtured, and the many plants that continue to grow from cuttings given by her hands.

Jean is survived by her beloved daughter, Sharon Kay (Ritenour) Wright, and son-in-law, Wayne Wright, of Fairfax City, Virginia; her loving granddaughter, Heather Marie Wright, of Centreville, Virginia; her devoted sister, Betty Lou Holsinger, of Leesburg, Virginia, widow of the late Pete Holsinger; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends whose lives she touched.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Garland Leo Ritenour; her parents, Lloyd and Clara (Dysart) Shipp; her sister and brother-in-law, Margarette and Joe Heishman; and her brothers and sisters-in-law, Wilbur and Mary Shipp and Alan and Norma Shipp.

Jean's funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at National Funeral Home & Memorial Park. The family will gather at the funeral home and then proceed together to the graveside service.

In keeping with Jean's lifelong love of gardening, the family respectfully asks that flowers not be sent. Instead, please honor her memory by planting a flower, rooting a cutting, and sharing it with someone you love. As it grows, remember the remarkable woman who taught us that with patience, care, and a little determination, even the smallest living thing can take root and flourish. And if it needs a little extra encouragement, Jean would probably recommend some of her homemade “Miracle-Gro” - just be sure not to confuse it with her vinegar weed killer!

Those wishing to honor Jean in another way may donate in her memory to their local animal shelter.